It comes across as an astute business move for a few reasons: A. Dubai World can earn money during a period when the ship would have just sat empty as the company refurbished it. B. It will also increase traffic to Dubai World's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront attraction which is right next door to the port where the ship will be berthed. --- from earlier --- Here's the latest with the <i>Queen Elizabeth 2</i> - the 41-year-old vessel that was bought by Nakheel to be turned into a floating hotel off the Palm Jumeirah: She may leave Dubai for Cape Town, but the trip would be temporary. The Ministry of Tourism in South Africa just put out a statement saying that it would not oppose an application to berth the cruise ship at the Cape Town harbor. But it also mentioned that the application was to birth the cruise liner " <b>for a period of 18 months</b> ". This fits in with Nakheel's previous statement that the ship could open to visitors before its refurbishment begins. Here is what they said last week: "Nakheel is investigating the possibility of opening QE2 to visitors for a?short period of time before her refurbishment begins. The feasibility of?this has not yet been fully ascertained, as Nakheel is keen to ensure that?at all times the integrity of the ship is maintained. In addition to?alternative locations in Dubai, a number of ports in Africa and the Middle?East have expressed interest in hosting her as a stationary hotel." And is our story about this from last week.